He wouldn't stop sneaking the 46 cookies that the test kitchen had spent many days making for our Cookies of the World map. (Those cookies were off limits to us, but Cookie couldn't help himself.)

Oh, he's good at this.
Photo by James Ransom

Louis Mitchell, Sesame Street's Creative Director who's been animating Cookie Monster for 25 years, explained that Cookie has such a big heart that he would give his last cookie to his friends, but these cookies must've been too good—so good, he didn't even clean as he went.

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Photo by James Ransom

Cookie eats cookies how we wish we could—with abandon, in excess, exclusively, and like no one's watching. There was no way we could be mad at him for messing up our kitchen—if anything, we loved him more.

Next spoiler alert (cover your kids' eyes for this one): Cookie isn't a real person. He's supported by a stand and requires the help of Louis to make moves.

But, given the reactions of Food52 team members—who are all grown-up, capable, full-functioning humans—you would've thought otherwise. Here were some:

I am so starstruck right now.

He's our Justin Bieber.

I'm sweating. Maybe crying.

We're like the girls on the Ed Sullivan Show when The Beatles come out.

I'm going to be the coolest dad ever.

Nothing else matters right now.

Dreams do come true.

Louis said the 4-year-olds don't even wig out as much as we did, and sure enough, Food52 team members we were standing in front ofMerrill's daughter Clara. She wasn't all that interested in a photo with Cookie. Meanwhile, we lined up for our prom photos:

Eating cookies with Cookie.
Photos by James Ransom, James Ransom

Complete fan-girling.
Photo by James Ransom

More Cookie courters.
Photos by James Ransom, James Ransom

Baking is where you get cookies, Cookie!
Photo by James Ransom

Company holiday photo?
Photo by James Ransom

And, finally, the selfies to end all selfies:

Grown-ups taking selfies with a puppet.

It was the most wonderful day of the year. Thank you Cookie for ruining our office and bringing us so much joy!